Expansion anchors

ABSTRACT

Expansion anchors formed from continuous extrusions which may be cut in desired lengths. An inner wedge member is formed from one extrusion which is adapted to nest within the second outer extrusion comprised of a pair of yieldable arms with roughened areas adjacent to the free ends thereof, which frictionally engage the walls of an opening for anchoring therein, when a threaded bolt and nut unit extending between the inner outer members imparts relative movement therebetween. Any desired structural elements may be clamped between the outer extrusion and threaded unit.

United States Patent Hubbard Aug. 26, 1975 EXPANSION ANCHORS PrimaryExaminer-J. Karl Bell Armrney Agcnl 0r FirmSumuel Lebowitz {57] ABSTRACTExpansion anchors formed from continuous extrusions which may be cut indesired lengths. An inner wedge member is formed from one extrusionwhich is adapted to nest within the second outer extrusion comprised ofa pair of yieldable arms with roughened areas adjacent to the free endsthereof, which frictionally engage the walls of an opening for anchoringtherein, when a threaded bolt and nut unit extending between the innerouter members imparts relative movement therebetween. Any desiredstructural elements may be clamped between the outer extrusion andthreaded unit 12 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures EXPANSION ANCHORS Thisinvention relates to expansion anchors and more particularly toanchoring devices for fixing trim shapes of all types, lintel plates andother structural members to building structures of masonry, concrete andother building materials.

It is the object of the present invention to provide expansion anchorswhich may be fabricated economically and which are capable of adaptationto varying loadings, in dependence upon special needs.

It is a further object of the invention to provide expansion anchorswhich are particularly adaptable to the anchoring of trim shapes andother structural units within building openings of different dimensionsbut with substantially parallel walls, with the anchoring membersecurely affixed to substantial areas of said walls, so that theattaching forces are distributed effectively to withstand the loadingswithout causing the deterioration of the surfaces of masonry, concrete,wood, plastic or any other material which delineate these openings.

It is a further object of the invention to provide anchor assemblies ofextrudable aluminum alloys which are found in continuous lengths andwhich are severable into units of suitable size to adapt the units todiversified applications requiring clamping areas of differentdimensions.

Other objects and purposes will appear from the detailed description ofthe invention following hereinafter, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein FIG. 1 is an exploded view showing theprincipal elements of the invention severed from continuous extrusionsfor application to a structural wall formed of cinder blocks withopenings therein;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the masonry wall with an expansion anchor inan opening thereof, preparatory to the clamping of a structural unitthereto for support by said anchor;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the expansion anchor within an opening inthe masonry wall as the same is inserted therein, as shown in FIG. I;and

FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3, following the expansion of theanchor within the opening.

In FIG. 1 of the drawings is shown the essential elements of anexpansion anchor assembly in accordance with the invention which issevered from cooperating continuous extrusions E and F, which preferablyare fabricated from an extrudable material such as aluminum or analuminum alloy. These extrusions may be severed in coincident segmentsof any desired lengths, L, depending upon the special application of theexpansion anchors.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the anchoring assembly isinserted within an opening in a cinder block B which constitutes acomponent of a structural wall by the laying up of such blocks withintermediate groutings G. The openings are provided with opposedsubstantially parallel walls 1 and 2 which, in conventional standardizedblocks, may be displaced from each other approximately two inches. Theopenings may be delineated in many other different ways, such as byspaces between building panels, walls or partitions, and these may be ofdifferent dimensions in length and width. The extrusion may vary in sizeto accommodate large variances in the latter.

The invention makes possible the secure mounting of trim shapes, lintelplates and other structural members to the wall by fastening the trimshapes to the expansion anchor, in most instances after the latter ispositioned within the opening 0. These structural members may besupported by the anchor assembly as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, or may besuspended thereby as indicated in FIG. 2.

The expansion anchor is constituted by four parts, namely, an outermember 10 with laterally yieldable arms, an inner wedge member 20, and abolt and nut 36 and 39, respectively, for effecting relative movementbetween members 10 and 20. The structural plate P may be fastened to theexpansion anchor assembly, as shown in FIG. 3, before the latter isinserted within the opening 0, or may be clamped thereto following theplacement of the anchor assembly within the opening, as indicated inFIG. 2. The former expedient may be used in the case when the plate isof relatively small area.

The outer member 10 is formed with a bridging element 11 which isreenforced at its mid-portion by the greater thickness 11 and wherefromdiverges the laterally yieldable arms 12,12 disposed symmetricallyrelative to the longitudinal medial plane of the member. Notches 14,14at the junction points of the arms with the bridging member enhance theyieldability of the former.

Roughened areas 15,15 are provided on the outer surfaces of the arms12,12 adjacent to the free ends 13,13, respectively. These rougheningsmay be parallel serrations of a depth of about 0.032 inch. Projections16,16, in the form of wings, extend outwardly from the external surfacesof the arms 12,12, respectively, in an opposite direction from the freeends of the latter, at an acute angle relative to the outer surfaces ofthe yieldable arms. These wings form an integral part of the extrusion.Also, inwardly directed shoulders 17,17 extend from the inner surfacesof the yieldable arms at approximately the same junctures 18,18 of thearms as the projections 16,16. This arrangement results in a strong andflawless extrusion.

The companion inner wedge member 20 is likewise severed from acontinuous extrusion F, preferably in a length coincident with that ofthe outer member 10. The member 20 is rigid, and to that end the arms22,22 diverging symmetrically from the bridging element or cap 21, arerelatively short and may be of the same or greater cross-section thanthe corresponding parts of the outer member. The angularity of the outersurfaces of the arm 22,22 correspond to that of the inner surfaces ofthe arms 12,12, respectively, as clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Arectangular channel 34 is formed within the inner face of the bridgingelement 21 along the longitudinal median thereof and the lateralboundaries of this channel are preferably increased by pointed fillets34' which enhance the secure retention of the polygonal faces of athreaded unit to prevent the rotation thereof.

A groove 40 is formed in the longitudinal median plane at the base ofchannel 34, and another groove 41 is formed in the outer face of thebridging element 21 in alignment with groove 40. These grooves, whichmay be of about 0.01 inch in depth, serve as guide lines for thepunching or drilling openings 35 along the center line of the extrusionfor the reception of threaded units in the form of bolt and nutassemblies. A groove 42,

along the center line of the bridging member 11, is formed similarly inthe extrusion E for guidance in the punching or drilling of cylindricalopenings 45 in extrusion E for the accomodation of the threaded unit.This unit may consist of a bolt 36 provided with a polygonal head 37 atone end thereof and threads 38 at the opposite ends thereof forengagement with a threaded nut 39.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the head 37 of the bolt is retained withinthe channel 34 of the inner wedge member which is positioned between thearms of the outer member preparatory to the advancing movement of theformer within the latter which is effected by the bolt extending throughthe openings 35 and 45. The bolt also passes through an opening 47 in astructural element P which may be a trim plate, lintel plate and thelike, for the reception of a threaded nut 39 with or without any desiredwashers. The opening 47 may be cylindrical or elongated to permitadjustment of the plate P with respect to the anchor assembly, and theretention between these two components may be en hanced by the provisionof roughenings such as parallel pointed serrations 43 in the outersurface of the bridging element 1 1 which may grasp frictionally theundersurface of the plate for attaining a more secure clamping. Thestructural element P may be formed with cooperating serrations so thatthese may interlock with serrations 43 of the bridging element to attaina more secure connection between the anchor and the structural unit.These serrations 43 may be similar to those at 15,15, of a depth ofabout 0.032 inch.

The structural unit may be fitted loosely within the opening by virtueof the spread between the outer arms 16,16 which approximate the widthof the opening 0. The preliminary assembly of the components of theanchor assembly is facilitated by the provision of grooves 50,50 on theinner surfaces of the arms 12,12 as shown in FIG. 3, which may be thestarting point for the movement of the inner wedge member as the same ismoved from the position shown in FIG. 3 whereat the lower edges of thediverging arms 22,22 coincide with the grooves 50,50 to the positionshown in H6. 4. in the latter position the wedge member has movedupwardly to effect the spreading of the arms 12,12 to bring theroughened areas 15,15 of the latter into desired frictional engagementwith the walls of the opening. The shoulders 17,17 provide a definitelimit stop for the movement of the wedge member so that the desiredfrictional force may be attained without undue mutilation of theroughened areas 15,15. Thus, as shown in FIG. 4, the structural plate Pis securely clamped to the building wall through the intermediary of theanchor.

The anchor may be positioned within the opening in a reverse direction,as indicated in FIG. 2, and is adapted to receive an apertured lintelplate for clamping of the latter to the wall by'means of a threaded unitextending from the interior of the anchor to the exposed face of thelintel plate.

It is understood that the threaded unit may be reversed so that thechannel 34 may receive a threaded nut therein which permits a threadedbolt to extend therethrough as the head thereof is rotated on theexposed surface of the structural plate P. When a V4 inch bolt is used,the openings therefor may be 5/16 inch and the channel 34 may have awidth of 7/16 inch.

Anchor assemblies in accordance with the invention are preferablyfabricated from aluminum or aluminum alloys either extruded or heattempered. Plastic extrusions may be used in the case of light loadings.

The lengths of the extrusions may be varied and a plurality of holes maybe punched in the individual lengths when these are greater than twoinches. Other variations may be made within the spirit of the inventionas defined in the following claims.

1 claim:

1. An expansible anchor comprised of a pair of cooperating nestedsegments severed from continuous extrusions, for mounting within astructural unit having an opening therein with widely spacedsubstantially parallel walls, said anchor comprising a. an outer memberof solid symmetrical crosssection relative to the longitudinal axis ofthe extrusion, having a medial bridging element with laterally yieldingarms extending transversely from the outer edges of said bridgingelement and diverging angularly therefrom in widely spaced planes andterminating in substantially parallel external gripping surfaces,

b. an inner wedge member having a medial bridge substantially parallelto, and at a substantial displacement from said first-mentioned bridgingelement, with laterally diverging legs extending outwardly from theouter edges of said bridge in the same angular directions as said armsand in close adjacency to the internal surfaces of the latter remotefrom said bridging element, and

threaded means extending between said innerwedge member and bridgingelement to control the relative movement therebetween in a directionperpendicular to said longitudinal axis of the extrusion, thereby toimpart transverse movement to said laterally yieldable arms inconsequence of the diverging contours of the outer surfaces of the legsof said inner wedge member and corresponding diverging internal surfacesof said yieldable arms to force said external gripping surfaces of thelatter into tightly binding engagement with the parallel walls of saidopening.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said threaded means isdisposed in the longitudinal axis of the extrusion and is constituted bya threaded bolt having a polygonal head at one end and a polygonal nutin engagement with the threads of the bolt on the opposite end, withboth said outer and inner members having guide grooves therein at saidlongitudinal axis for indicating the axes for the openings required forsaid threaded means.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lengths of said outerand inner members are substantially equal.

4. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bridging element ofsaid outer member is of greater thickness at its midportion, wherefromthe yieldable arms diverge, and whereat are provided longitudinalgrooves to facilitate the flexing of the yieldable arms relative to saidbridging element.

5. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the outer surface of saidbridging element is roughened to enhance the frictional resistancebetween it and a structural element adapted to be placed in contacttherewith.

6. A device as set forth in claim 5, wherein the roughenings in thebridging element are formed of parallel serrations adapted tointerengage corresponding parallel serrations in the contacting surfaceof said structural element.

7. An expansible anchor for mounting within a structural unit providedwith an opening therein defined at least in part by a pair of opposedsubstantially parallel walls, said anchor comprising a. an outer memberof the same cross-section in the direction of the longitudinal medialplane thereof, said member being comprised of a medial bridging elementand laterally yieldable arms diverging symmetrically from portionsthereof on opposite sides of said medial plane, said bridging elementbeing integral with said arms which are adapted for movement in lateraldirections relative to said longitudinal medial plane,

b. a roughened area on the outer surfaces of said arms adjacent to thefree ends thereof remote from said bridging element, for engaging saidopposite substantially parallel walls of said opening in said structuralunit,

c. an inner wedge member having a pair of diverging outer surfaces of anangularity comparable to the diverging surfaces on the interior of saidyieldable arms adjacent to the free ends thereof remote from saidbridging element,

d. threaded means extending between said inner wedge member and bridgingelement to control the relative movement therebetween in a directionparallel to said medial plane, thereby to impart transverse movement tosaid laterally yieldable arms in consequence of the diverging contoursof the outer surfaces of said inner wedge member and correspondingdiverging surfaces on the interior of said yieldable arms, to force theroughened areas on the outer surfaces of the latter into tightly bindingengagement with said parallel walls of said opening, and

e. a projecting wing extending outwardly from the outer surface of eacharm, with the outer portions of said wings spaced from each other adistance approximating that between said opposed walls of said openingfor maintaining the alignment and preventing turning movements of theouter member within the opening in the course of effecting the spreadingof said yieldable arms by said threaded means.

8. A device as set forth in claim 7, wherein said outer portions of saidwings are spaced from each other a distance slightly less that thatbetween the opposed walls of said opening.

9. A device as set forth in claim 8, wherein the free ends of said wingsare rounded and are directed at an acute angle from the free ends ofsaid arms towards said bridging element.

10. A device as set forth in claim 7, including a shoulder projectinginwardly from the inner surface of each arm at a predetermined distancefrom said bridging element to provide a limit stop for the inner wedgemember.

11. A device as set forth in claim 10, wherein said wing and shoulderproject from approximately the same intermediate portion of eachyieldable arm.

12. A device as set forth in claim 11, wherein said intermediate portionis closer to said bridging element than the free end of each arm.

* ii i 1'

1. An expansible anchor comprised of a pair of cooperating nestedsegments severed from continuous extrusions, for mounting within astructural unit having an opening therein with widely spacedsubstantially parallel walls, said anchor comprising a. an outer memberof solid symmetrical cross-section relative to the longitudinal axis ofthe extrusion, having a medial bridging element with laterally yieldingarms extending transversely from the outer edges of said bridgingelement and diverging angularly therefrom in widely spaced planes andterminating in substantially parallel external gripping surfaces, b. aninner wedge member having a medial bridge substantially parallel to, andat a substantial displacement from said firstmentioned bridging element,with laterally diverging legs extending outwardly from the outer edgesof said bridge in the same angular directions as said arms and in closeadjacency to the internal surfaces of the latter remote from saidbridging element, and c. threaded means extending between saidinnerwedge member and bridging element to control the relative movementtherebetween in a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal axis ofthe extrusion, thereby to impart transverse movement to said laterallyyieldable arms in consequence of the diverging contours of the outersurfaces of the legs of said inner wedge member and correspondingdiverging internal surfaces of said yieldable arms to force saidexternal gripping surfaces of the latter into tightly binding engagementwith the parallel walls of said opening.
 2. A device as set forth inclaim 1, wherein said threaded means is disposed in the longitudinalaxis of the extrusion and is constituted by a threaded bolt having apolygonal head at one end and a polygonal nut in engagement with thethreads of the bolt on the opposite end, with both said outer and innermembers having guide grooves therein at said longitudinal axis forindicating the axes for the openings required for said threaded means.3. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lengths of said outerand inner members are substantially equal.
 4. A device as set forth inclaim 1, wherein the bridging element of said outer member is of greaterthickness at its midportion, wherefrom the yieldable arms diverge, andwhereat are provided longitudinal grooves to facilitate the flexing ofthe yieldable arms relative to said bridging element.
 5. A device as setforth in claim 1, wherein the outer surface of said bridging element isroughened to enhance the frictional resistance between it and astructural element adapted to be placed in contact therewith.
 6. Adevice as set forth in claim 5, wherein the roughenings in the bridgingelement are formed of parallel serrations adapted to interengagecorresponding parallel serrations in the contacting surface of saidstructural element.
 7. An expansible anchor for mounting within astructural unit provided with an opening therein defined at least inpart by a pair of opposed substantially parallel walls, said anchorcomprising a. an outer member of the same cross-section in the directionof the longitudinal medial plane thereof, said member being comprised ofa medial bridging element and laterally yieldable arms divergingsymmetrically from portions thereof on opposite sides of said medialplane, said bridging element being integral with said arms which areadapted for movement in lateral directions relative to said longitudinalmedial plane, b. a roughened area on the outer surfaces of said armsadjacent to the free ends thereof remote from said bridging element, forengaging said opposite substantially parallel walls of said opening insaid structural unit, c. an inner wedge member having a pair ofdiverging outer surfaces of an angularity comparable to the divergingsurfaces on the interior of said yieldable arms adjacent to the freeends thereof remote from said bridging element, d. threaded meansextending between said inner wedge member and bridging element tocontrol the relative movement therebetween in a direction parallel tosaid medial plane, thereby to impart transverse movement to saidlaterally yieldable arms in consequence of the diverging contours of theouter surfaces of said inner wedge member and coRresponding divergingsurfaces on the interior of said yieldable arms, to force the roughenedareas on the outer surfaces of the latter into tightly bindingengagement with said parallel walls of said opening, and e. a projectingwing extending outwardly from the outer surface of each arm, with theouter portions of said wings spaced from each other a distanceapproximating that between said opposed walls of said opening formaintaining the alignment and preventing turning movements of the outermember within the opening in the course of effecting the spreading ofsaid yieldable arms by said threaded means.
 8. A device as set forth inclaim 7, wherein said outer portions of said wings are spaced from eachother a distance slightly less that that between the opposed walls ofsaid opening.
 9. A device as set forth in claim 8, wherein the free endsof said wings are rounded and are directed at an acute angle from thefree ends of said arms towards said bridging element.
 10. A device asset forth in claim 7, including a shoulder projecting inwardly from theinner surface of each arm at a predetermined distance from said bridgingelement to provide a limit stop for the inner wedge member.
 11. A deviceas set forth in claim 10, wherein said wing and shoulder project fromapproximately the same intermediate portion of each yieldable arm.
 12. Adevice as set forth in claim 11, wherein said intermediate portion iscloser to said bridging element than the free end of each arm.